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Portrait of John Pesutto

John Pesutto

Liberal Party · Victoria · Victorian Legislative Assembly · Hawthorn (VIC) · incumbent

John Pesutto was born on 5 September 1970 and grew up in Traralgon, one of five children of parents from Calabria, southern Italy; his father, an electrician, migrated to Australia in 1961 and his mother, a machinist at a Traralgon shoe factory, in 1963. He attended Catholic Regional College Traralgon from 1983 to 1988, then studied a Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Melbourne from 1989 to 1993. He practised as a lawyer before entering politics. [source]

Sourced positions

A verified position is the member's own stated view or vote, supported by the listed sources. This page records public statements and conduct only — see methodology.

Abortion & reproductive policy verified

Pesutto (Liberal), Opposition Leader until December 2024, expressed personal support for abortion and said he would put the issue to a conscience vote, as noted in a 4 February 2025 Victorian Greens statement describing the recent Liberal leadership change.

Voluntary assisted dying verified

Voted on the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2017 in the Victorian Legislative Assembly (conscience vote; the bill passed the Assembly 47-37 on 20 October 2017). John Pesutto voted NO (against).

Gender & LGBTQ+ policy verified

Liberal MP for Hawthorn and Leader of the Opposition / Victorian Liberal leader from December 2022 until a leadership spill on 27 December 2024; factionally a moderate. He is central to the Moira Deeming affair: after Deeming spoke at the 'Let Women Speak' rally (18 March 2023) that was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis, Pesutto moved to discipline her, leading to her nine-month suspension and then expulsion from the party room (19-11) on 12 May 2023. Deeming sued him for defamation over imputations she associated with neo-Nazis; in December 2024 the Federal Court found Pesutto had defamed her, awarding $300,000 in damages plus large legal costs. As leader he stated that 'all people, irrespective of faith, sexual preference, race, ethnicity or gender they identify with, have an equal place in Victoria.'

Freedom of speech verified

Voted against the Justice Legislation Amendment (Anti-vilification and Social Cohesion) Bill 2024, which repealed the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001 and expanded vilification protections (Legislative Assembly, combined second and third reading, 20 February 2025; Ayes 50, Noes 25).

Gambling & gaming reform verified

Voted against the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation Repeal and Advisory Councils Bill 2024, which abolished the Foundation (Legislative Assembly, second and third reading, 30 May 2024; Ayes 49, Noes 28). Voted against the Gambling Legislation Amendment (Pre-commitment and Carded Play) Bill 2024 (Legislative Assembly, second and third reading, 20 March 2025; Ayes 53, Noes 25). Voted against the second reading of the Gambling Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 (Legislative Assembly, 20 May 2025; Ayes 51, Noes 25). Voted for the second reading of the Casino and Gambling Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 (Legislative Assembly, 11 September 2025; Ayes 73, Noes 3).

Native forest logging verified

Voted against the second reading of the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Repeal Bill 2024, which repealed the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004 following the cessation of native forest logging on 1 January 2024 (Legislative Assembly, 30 May 2024; Ayes 53, Noes 24).

Record last updated 2026-08-13.